The Arthur H. Thomas Company
In 1892, Arthur H. Thomas joined the microscope department of the James W. Queen Company, a leading supplier of optical and scientific equipment in the 1800’s, where he met J. Edward Patterson. Following the Panic of 1893 and subsequent economic depression, several of the young professionals pursued their own dreams of entrepreneurship. These included American success stories such as: Williams, Brown & Earle; Leeds & Northrup and Precision Thermometer & Instrument Co. The ambitions of Thomas and Patterson eventually collided at a landmark meeting on December 7, 1900 at the grand, recently opened Hotel Walton in Philadelphia. Joined by William and Charles Lentz, representing the Bausch & Lomb distributors Charles Lentz & Sons, as well as William Drescher and Henry Bausch, Thomas and Patterson hammered out their plans for a leading-edge laboratory products distribution company that would incorporate the industry’s best-in-class practices and lay the foundation for excellence that would fuel the company throughout the century and into the next. The partnership was organized and incorporated as the Arthur H. Thomas Company. William Howell, another Queen Company alum, joined the group as head bookkeeper, and AHT opened for business in Philadelphia’s Freeman building at 12th & Walnut. The first customer was Frank J. Keeley, the naturalist and minerals expert.
The Arthur H. Thomas Company
In 1892, Arthur H. Thomas joined the microscope department of the James W. Queen Company, a leading supplier of optical and scientific equipment in the 1800’s that spawned a lot of ambitious entrepreneurs. Arthur Thomas met J. Edward Patterson at the company when Patterson joined in 1890. By then James Queen had retired, and the business he founded had begun to decline with his death. Soon the smart, ambitious professionals on the Queen team headed for the exits to pursue their own dreams either with other established businesses or ones they planned to start. Their firms had names such as Williams, Brown & Earle; Leeds & Northrup and Precision Thermometer & Instrument Co. Arthur Thomas left in 1899 to start his own company, while Patterson joined Charles Lentz & Sons, agents for the burgeoning Bausch & Lomb Optical Company.
Though they went to separate businesses, Thomas and Patterson would keep in close contact and occasionally partner on projects—collaboration that led to a landmark meeting on December 7, 1900 at the beautiful, recently opened Hotel Walton in Philadelphia. Thomas and Patterson were joined in a private room by William and Charles Lentz, representing Bausch & Lomb distributors Charles Lentz & Sons, as well as William Drescher and Henry Bausch, a close relative of Bausch & Lomb Company’s founder. Thomas and Patterson hammered out the outlines of a new company in their presence, and their partnership was organized and incorporated as the Arthur H. Thomas Company. William Howell, who had also been at the Queen Company, joined the group as head bookkeeper, and AHT opened for business in Philadelphia’s Freeman building at 12th & Walnut. The first customer was Frank J. Keeley, the naturalist and minerals expert.
AHT is Formed
Arthur H. Thomas is formed at the Hotel Walton in Philadelphia. In attendance were Mr. Thomas, Mr. Patterson, William and Charles Lentz, along with William Drescher and Henry Bausch of the Bausch & Lomb Company. A new company and partnership was organized and incorporated as the Arthur H. Thomas Company. William Howell, who had also been at the Queen Company, joined the group as head bookkeeper and the company opened its place of business in the Freeman building at 12th & Walnut Streets in Philadelphia.
First AHT Catalog Published
First AHT catalog published
AHT Moves
AHT moves to West Washington Square at 230 South Seventh Street in Philadelphia.
AHT engages the Corning Glass Company to create Pyrex flasks and beakers.
The resulting disruption of scientific glassware from World War I led AHT to engage the Corning Glass Works Company resulting in the creation of Pyrex flasks and beakers, which previously had been developed for use in globes of railroad signal lanterns
Our First Truck (VIM) / Driver is Frank Mason
J. Edward Patterson is named Chairman of AHT
J. Edward Patterson is named Chairman of AHT
Chairman of AHT
Edward B. Patterson Sr. was named Chairman of AHT
Headquarters in Historic Philadelphia
AHT moves to a seven story building in historic Philadelphia at 3rd & Vine Streets on property once owned by Betsy Ross’s father.
President of AHT
President of AHT
Chairman of AHT
Edward B. Patterson Jr. named Chairman of AHT
AHT Changes Its Purpose
AHT becomes a holding company, transferring its distribution business to the newly formed Thomas Scientific.
LaMotte Chemical Company
AHT acquires LaMotte Chemical Company of Chestertown, MD
New Corporate Headquarters
State-of-the-art distribution center and corporate headquarters built in Swedesboro, NJ.
Cannon Instruments
AHT acquires Cannon Instruments and Scientific Development Company of State College, PA
Robert D. Patterson
Robert D. Patterson joins AHT on June 4th
Thomas Scientific, Inc.
Thomas Scientific, Inc. is formally incorporated
Robert D. Patterson
Robert D. Patterson named Chairman of AHT
Craig D. Kingery
Craig D. Kingery joins AHT as CFO
AHT spin-off Complete
AHT completes strategic spin-off of Thomas Scientific, Inc.
Craig D. Kingery named President & CEO of AHT
Craig D. Kingery named President & CEO of AHT
Mr. Thomas passed away in 1942 at the age of 70. He worked at his office almost up to that time. Upon his death, under his and Patterson’s original pact, the management of Arthur H. Thomas Company passed to the Patterson family. Edward Patterson managed the business until his death in 1955 at the age of 82, and was succeeded by his son Edward B. Patterson.
In the early 1980’s AHT changed its name formally to Thomas Scientific, reflecting its then biggest entity. In 1983, AHT began a series of acquisitions starting with the water analysis solutions leader LaMotte Chemical Products Company in Chestertown, Maryland, and later AHT acquired Cannon Instruments of State College, Pennsylvania.
The fourth generation of Pattersons continue to be involved in the company, with the company’s current Chairman Rob Patterson. At one time AHT had been in a 7-story headquarters at 3rd & Vine Streets in historic Philadelphia, on property once owned by the father of the iconic flag maker Betsy Ross. AHT has since relocated to more modern offices and is now situated in suburban Chadds Ford, PA.
AHT is determined to stay true to its resonant beginnings and mission as a company, even as it searches for new and revolutionary technologies and equipment to acquire and provide the highest quality engineered products and solutions to its customers. This has been an AHT hallmark since 1900, and current management is determined to keep this so.
Mr. Thomas passed away in 1942 at the age of 70. He worked at his office almost up to that time. Upon his death, under his and Patterson’s original pact, the management of Arthur H. Thomas Company passed to the Patterson family. J. Edward Patterson went on to manage the business until his death in 1955 at the age of 82. And Patterson was succeeded by his son Edward B. Patterson.
In the early 1980s, AHT changed its name formally to Thomas Scientific, reflecting its then-biggest entity. In 1983 AHT began a series of acquisitions starting with the water purity specialist LaMotte Chemical Company of Chestertown, Maryland, and later AHT acquired Cannon Instruments of State College, Pennsylvania.
The fourth generation of Pattersons continues to be involved in the company, with the company’s current Chairman Rob Patterson. At one time, AHT had been in a 7-story headquarters at 3rd & Vine Streets in historic Philadelphia, on property once owned by the father of the iconic flag maker Betsy Ross. AHT has since relocated to more modern offices and is now situated in, suburban Chadds Ford, PA.
AHT is committed to Arthur H. Thomas and J. Edward Patterson’s original mission to provide customers with the highest quality engineered products and solutions, a company hallmark since 1900. In pursuit of new and revolutionary technologies and equipment, current management is determined to uphold the vision of excellence pursued by AHT’s founders.
